Mirwaiz joins Geelani on opposing Kashmir concert

After hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani asking the German ambassador to India to reconsider holding concert in Kashmir, Valley's cleric and moderate separatist Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has also expressed his displeasure about the musical programme of the world-renowned maestro Zubin Mehta to be held next week.

"Any sort of activity related with politics, diplomatic, culture or sports will have an adverse effect on the disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir," Geelani had said in his appeal to Steiner.

Joining the chorus with other separatists, Mirwaiz said crores of rupees to be spent on boarding and lodging of the artistes, who are being flown in chartered planes and on TV and media rights of the event, should instead be spent on health care and education.

Mehta is scheduled to play at 'Ehasas-e-Kashmir' concert on September 7. A private plan from Germany's Bavaria will fly to India carrying around 100 instruments and same number of players would play the symphony at Kashmir's Shalimar Gardens. The show would go live in all European countries.

The discourse was started by hardline Hurriyat on Saturday. In a statement, Geelani said such "events were harmful for Kashmir cause".